There will be three new faces on the Point Loma Nazarene University women’s soccer team next season, according to Sea Lions’ head coach Tim Hall. The new players are Ariel Oriarte, Courtnie Marshall and Dottie Rhoten.

“I am very excited about the incoming 2013 class,” said Hall. “Each one of these ladies has a commitment to their academic journey here. Each is excited to be in a faith-based environment and see what that can do for their lives.”

Marshall is a 5-4 midfielder and defender out of Christian High School in San Diego. She played four seasons for the Patriots under head coach Joel Waymayer.

She was named to first-team, all-league selections and the team’s MVP as a junior. She will major in education at PLNU.

Rhoten, a 5-7 forward/midfielder, will join Point Loma out of Huntington Beach High School, where she was a two-time all-league selection. Rhoten was a four-year letterwinner and scholar-athlete for the Oilers. She was named the team captain the last two years and earned MVP honors as a senior.

Rhoten was also selected as the Distinguished Oiler for the women’s soccer team and was a nominee for the Jim Staunton Champion of Character Award. At PLNU, Rhoten plans to major in cross-disciplinary studies.

Oriarte will come in as the goalkeeper of the 2013 recruiting class. Oriarte played her high school ball at Mira Mesa High School, where she was captain of the team and named the defensive MVP. During club soccer, she put together a streak of 900 minutes without allowing a goal. Oriarte plans to major in psychology at PLNU.

“All three were very good soccer players at the high school and club level,” Hall said. “Each will add a tremendous amount to our team in all aspects. The three components that are most important are their academics, their desire to be at PLNU and the fact that they are quality soccer players. All three will enhance our program.”

Fall and winter schedules now available

The 2013-14 academic year will be a big stepping stone in the course of Point Loma athletics history. The Sea Lions are approaching their final year of a three-year transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. They have plunged right into the largest Division II conference, the PacWest, which stretches from the Bay Area in the north to San Diego in the south and from Hawaii in the west to Utah in the east.

PLNU will compete in the PacWest for the second straight year.

The schedules for the all the fall sports, including volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and cross country; and the winter sports, including men’s basketball and women’s basketball, are all available at www.plnusealions.com.